Piquet: No one has been punished more than I have
Discussion
Despite escaping a ban from Formula One Nelson Piquet Jr insists that "no one has been punished more than" he has in the wake of Renault's race-fixing scandal.
Piquet Jr was granted immunity by the FIA for coming forward with information relating to his deliberate accident in the 2008 Singapore GP.
But while the former Renault driver was not punished for his part in the scandal, then-Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and director of engineering Pat Symonds were both banned for the sport.
"Some people have suggested I should have been punished by the FIA but, in reality, no one has been punished more than I have," Piquet Jr said in an interview on Brazilian TV that was published in The Times.
"I am at the beginning of my career, unlike the others who have been punished in this case. I am going to have to overcome many obstacles.
"I more or less have to start my career from scratch in Formula One."
It remains to be seen, though, whether Piquet Jr will ever return to Formula One as some sponsors could refuse to work with the Brazilian.
In the wake of the FIA's ruling, Manor GP owner John Booth stated he would consider Piquet for next year's Championship, however, hours later Virgin, potential Manor sponsors, said they would never back a driver who had been found guilty of cheating.
Unfortunately for Piquet, he never thought of these consequences of his actions when he agreed in the hours immediately before the Singapore GP to go along with the "request" of Briatore and Symonds.
"The crash plan was only made hours before the race. I did not have time to think straight. I didn't have a great qualifying and this was also a contributory factor to me accepting the strategy late in the day.
"If the proposal had been made during free practice [on Friday] I would have had more time to think and to act in another way.
"It all happened so quickly and I must confess that I could never possibly have weighed up the consequences. I was in a difficult position at the time and the renegotiation of my contract was in play if I didn't accept the strategy.
"I was taken by surprise by the request of the two most important people in the team - after all, one of them was my manager."
Piquet Jr's revelation to the FIA about the Singapore crash raised some questions about whether his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who benefited from the crash, had known.
Nelson Piquet Jr has continued to state that he believes there was no way Alonso didn't know what was going on but, according to Junior, he may not have.
"Alonso did not participate in the meeting when the idea of a crash was developed. However, I didn't mention it. If he knew or not about the plan, is a detail that I do not know."
The Brazilian also had a final dig at disgraced former team boss Briatore's management style: "As a result of Renault not being very competitive, Briatore channelled all his unhappiness on me.
"He preferred to take it out on me during the 2½ seasons I was in Formula One. I never saw other rookies being pushed as hard as I was. The pressure for results is normal but the mental harassment is another story."
"Some people have suggested that I was blackmailing Renault to continue my career but the situation was more complicated for a long time before.
"At each race it was always the same story of threatening to withdraw my contract or the renewal for the next season.
"I made the allegation so that no other driver would go through what I went through and, more importantly, so that the whole episode would be clarified the way it has been."
Piquet Jr was granted immunity by the FIA for coming forward with information relating to his deliberate accident in the 2008 Singapore GP.
But while the former Renault driver was not punished for his part in the scandal, then-Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and director of engineering Pat Symonds were both banned for the sport.
"Some people have suggested I should have been punished by the FIA but, in reality, no one has been punished more than I have," Piquet Jr said in an interview on Brazilian TV that was published in The Times.
"I am at the beginning of my career, unlike the others who have been punished in this case. I am going to have to overcome many obstacles.
"I more or less have to start my career from scratch in Formula One."
It remains to be seen, though, whether Piquet Jr will ever return to Formula One as some sponsors could refuse to work with the Brazilian.
In the wake of the FIA's ruling, Manor GP owner John Booth stated he would consider Piquet for next year's Championship, however, hours later Virgin, potential Manor sponsors, said they would never back a driver who had been found guilty of cheating.
Unfortunately for Piquet, he never thought of these consequences of his actions when he agreed in the hours immediately before the Singapore GP to go along with the "request" of Briatore and Symonds.
"The crash plan was only made hours before the race. I did not have time to think straight. I didn't have a great qualifying and this was also a contributory factor to me accepting the strategy late in the day.
"If the proposal had been made during free practice [on Friday] I would have had more time to think and to act in another way.
"It all happened so quickly and I must confess that I could never possibly have weighed up the consequences. I was in a difficult position at the time and the renegotiation of my contract was in play if I didn't accept the strategy.
"I was taken by surprise by the request of the two most important people in the team - after all, one of them was my manager."
Piquet Jr's revelation to the FIA about the Singapore crash raised some questions about whether his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who benefited from the crash, had known.
Nelson Piquet Jr has continued to state that he believes there was no way Alonso didn't know what was going on but, according to Junior, he may not have.
"Alonso did not participate in the meeting when the idea of a crash was developed. However, I didn't mention it. If he knew or not about the plan, is a detail that I do not know."
The Brazilian also had a final dig at disgraced former team boss Briatore's management style: "As a result of Renault not being very competitive, Briatore channelled all his unhappiness on me.
"He preferred to take it out on me during the 2½ seasons I was in Formula One. I never saw other rookies being pushed as hard as I was. The pressure for results is normal but the mental harassment is another story."
"Some people have suggested that I was blackmailing Renault to continue my career but the situation was more complicated for a long time before.
"At each race it was always the same story of threatening to withdraw my contract or the renewal for the next season.
"I made the allegation so that no other driver would go through what I went through and, more importantly, so that the whole episode would be clarified the way it has been."
Damaged goods.
I wouldn't write him off as just another driver who tried and failed, as in team-fernando he never had a chance to shine. While flabio/symonds may have manipulated the impressionable youngster, the sordid nature of having a combined boss and personal manager is something that is just inherently wrong and you think old man piquet at least should have realised this.
People b
h and sneer at lewis for having daddy everywhere he goes, but like I've said before at least he has someone he can trust implicitly with the business side and can concentrate on his racing. This proves that out.
I wouldn't write him off as just another driver who tried and failed, as in team-fernando he never had a chance to shine. While flabio/symonds may have manipulated the impressionable youngster, the sordid nature of having a combined boss and personal manager is something that is just inherently wrong and you think old man piquet at least should have realised this.
People b
h and sneer at lewis for having daddy everywhere he goes, but like I've said before at least he has someone he can trust implicitly with the business side and can concentrate on his racing. This proves that out.Frankly, all it boils down to is that nobody in their right mind could trust a word he says.
I have no idea if he's telling the truth or not, but personally I wouldn't bother wasting my time and energy worrying about that when there are plenty of other possible drivers to choose from who don't bring any baggage.
So he has to have his father in toe everywhere to make decisions for him - pathetic! I hope he never races again - was a talentless driver anyway and only got the drive due to his name!!
Reminds me of the time Michael Andretti came to McLaren, was totally out of his depth without 'Daddy' by his side.
I wish these World Champions whould look more objectively at their children, as most can not driver anything like their fathers and to say it's in the genes is just crazy.
Reminds me of the time Michael Andretti came to McLaren, was totally out of his depth without 'Daddy' by his side.
I wish these World Champions whould look more objectively at their children, as most can not driver anything like their fathers and to say it's in the genes is just crazy.
Looks like Piquet might be off the land of motor racing cheats, NASCAR. He'll be at home there.
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/153202/1/shunned_nels...
Ps. If you didn't know there have been more trick cars and engines in NASCAR than probably any other racing series. Fuel pipes the size of drainpipes to increase the fuel load with limited size tanks, even a perfect scaled down car every body part and component reduced slightly in size to be light and have less drag, the list can go on.
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/153202/1/shunned_nels...
Ps. If you didn't know there have been more trick cars and engines in NASCAR than probably any other racing series. Fuel pipes the size of drainpipes to increase the fuel load with limited size tanks, even a perfect scaled down car every body part and component reduced slightly in size to be light and have less drag, the list can go on.
FourWheelDrift said:
I'm sure there was nothing in the rumours about NP Jnr's private life, but all the same I had to chuckle at the following line:"Piquet is understood to be eyeing a year in the Camping World Truck Series in 2010"
Wasn't quick enough anyway... that would be your hurdle old boy, being good.
I wouldn't sign him, wasn't good enough, untrustworthy etc.
Flavio being his boss, good idea that.
"Hi Flavio, how is your retirement?"
"it ok"
"have you found me any work"
"Dustbin man"
"ok, do i get to drive the dust cart"
"no"
"what do i do"
"you geta ina de back and stomp ona de garbage"
I wouldn't sign him, wasn't good enough, untrustworthy etc.
Flavio being his boss, good idea that.
"Hi Flavio, how is your retirement?"
"it ok"
"have you found me any work"
"Dustbin man"
"ok, do i get to drive the dust cart"
"no"
"what do i do"
"you geta ina de back and stomp ona de garbage"
Wanta996Gotta said:
The Brazilian also had a final dig at disgraced former team boss Briatore's management style: "As a result of Renault not being very competitive, Briatore channelled all his unhappiness on me.
"He preferred to take it out on me during the 2½ seasons I was in Formula One. I never saw other rookies being pushed as hard as I was. The pressure for results is normal but the mental harassment is another story."
"Some people have suggested that I was blackmailing Renault to continue my career but the situation was more complicated for a long time before.
"At each race it was always the same story of threatening to withdraw my contract or the renewal for the next season.
"I made the allegation so that no other driver would go through what I went through and, more importantly, so that the whole episode would be clarified the way it has been."
From what I've seen of Briatore, I totally believe this part. Must've seen it many times by a self-obsessed overly competitive manager who doesn't understand his subordinate job, at many a place of work."He preferred to take it out on me during the 2½ seasons I was in Formula One. I never saw other rookies being pushed as hard as I was. The pressure for results is normal but the mental harassment is another story."
"Some people have suggested that I was blackmailing Renault to continue my career but the situation was more complicated for a long time before.
"At each race it was always the same story of threatening to withdraw my contract or the renewal for the next season.
"I made the allegation so that no other driver would go through what I went through and, more importantly, so that the whole episode would be clarified the way it has been."
Edited by mattikake on Monday 5th October 13:26
He certainly isn't getting much support from within the paddock: http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/...
Perhaps the best thing for him to do right now is to simply acknowledge that he made a lapse in judgement by agreeing to fix the race. Right now, he just comes across as an unrepentant narcissist.
Perhaps the best thing for him to do right now is to simply acknowledge that he made a lapse in judgement by agreeing to fix the race. Right now, he just comes across as an unrepentant narcissist.
Have you noticed how every time he says something to a journo he says that he was told to do it just before the race. According to Symonds it was the day before. Whilst thre is no evidence to support either chap, I know whose explanation I favour.
Further, if Piquet is to be believed, wouldn't that mean that everything was planned and settled, including fuel levels, before it was even mentioned to him? That doesn't seem likely to me.
You would think that a chap who has been proved a cheat would not mention the fact every 48 hours.
Further, if Piquet is to be believed, wouldn't that mean that everything was planned and settled, including fuel levels, before it was even mentioned to him? That doesn't seem likely to me.
You would think that a chap who has been proved a cheat would not mention the fact every 48 hours.
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